Umbrella runner cap



Jan. 29, 1957 c. KELLER 2,779,345 UMBRELLA RUNNER CAP Filed Nov. 28,1955 INVENTOR C /zarZeS [filler ATTORNEYS United rates Patent UMBRELLARUNNER CAP Charles Keller, New York, N. Y. Application November 28,1955, Serial No. 549,327

2 Claims. (Cl. 135-28) The present invention relates to a runner cap forumbrellas and, more particularly, to a runner cap which will protect thefingers of the user of the umbrella in raising and lowering theumbrella.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a pro tecting memberto underlie the rib support portion of the runner of an umbrella havingmeans thereon to hold the capin adjusted position on the umbrellasleeve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed having a configuration such that move ment of the cap in onedirection will tend to cause the cap to bite into the sleeve to resistmovement in that direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of the classdescribed above formed of resilient, flexible plastic material.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cap for a runnerof an umbrella wherein the cap can be installed to the runner withoutthe use of additional securing elements or installing equipment.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawing, inwhich:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention shown installed on anumbrella runner;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section taken alongthe line 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the invention shown detached.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several figures, the referencenumeral indicates generally a runner of an umbrella structure having atubular body portion 11 with a longitudinal slot 12 formed in one wallthereof to admit the spring detent (not shown) used for holding therunner 10 in adjusted vertical position. A rib support member 13 ispositioned over the tubular body 11 at one end thereof and is securedthereto by a flange 14 extending radially outwardly from the tube 11 anda bead 15 which extends circumferentially of the tube 11 and engages oneside 16 of the rib support member 13, the other side 17 of which isengaged against flange 14. It can be seen from this that the rib supportmember 13 is generally located on the tubular body 11 at one endthereof. A pair of parallel flanges 18 and 19 extend radially outwardlyon the rib support member 13 forming a circumferential slot 20therebetween. The peripheral edges of the flanges 18 and 19 are radiallyrecessed V as at 21 and 22 at 'circumferentially spaced points toprovide openings to receive the base portion 23 of the ribs 24. A ringclamp 25 extends through the groove 20 and passes through an opening 26in each of the rib bases 23 to pivotally secure the ribs 24 to therunner 10. The structure described above is of a conventional nature andoperates in a conventional manner to control the spread of the umbrellafrom open to closed position.

A cap generally indicated at 30 consists of a flexible resilient plasticbody 31 having a circular outer edge 32 and an axial bore 33concentrically arranged with relation 2,779,345 Patented Jan. 29, 1957to the circular edge 32. The body 31 is domed down wardly and inwardlyfrom the edge 32 as at 34 with the surface of the domed portion 34 beingdownwardly and inwardly curved as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. Aplurality of triangular notches 35 are formed in the domed portion 34with the apex 36 of the triangular notch 35 extending perpendicularlyand radially to the axis of the cap 30.- The triangular notches 35 areformed with their larger portions 37 opening into the bore 33 forming aplurality of teeth 38 with one tooth 38 lying between each notch 35. Theteeth 38 have their pointed terminal ends falling in the cylindricalplane of the bore 33.

In the use and operation of the invention the cap 30 is positioned overthe cylindrical body 11 of the runner 10 V with the cylindrical bore 33in engagement with the outer wall of the cylindrical body 11. The cap 30is positioned on the runner 10 with the teeth 38 projecting downwardlyaway from the ribs 24 of the umbrella. The cap 30 is moved upwardly 0nthe runner 10 until the face 39, extending perpendicularly to the bore33 of the cap 30 comes into engagement with the bead 15 on the runner10. In this position the edges of the flange 18 and the ends of the ribs24 are covered so that they cannot be engaged by the fingers of the userof the umbrella and, in addition, the connection of the rib 24 to therunner 10 is hidden in a decorative manner to provide a finishedappearance for the runner lit. In the event that the cap 30 should beurged downwardly on the body 11 away from the flange 18 the teeth 38will engage tightly the body 11 to bind the cap 30 in its position sothat the cap 30 will remain as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 untilforcibly removed.

The material of which the cap or puff of which this invention is made isof a kind of plastic which does not have inherent stretchcharacteristics although it is fiex ible and to a minor extentresilient. The arrangement of notches 35 therefore provides a meanswhereby the opening through the cap may be elongated to permit the capto be slipped over the runner 10 which has a larger diameter. The capthen stays in place at the point on the runner where it is eventuallypositioned, that against the bead 15.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous modifications and structuraladaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cap for umbrella runners comprising a domed circular body memberhaving an axial bore extending therethrough, said bore being of a sizeto permit said cap to be engaged over an umbrella runner, and aplurality of triangular teeth formed in said body adjacent said bore,said teeth being delineated by a plurality of triangular notchesextending into said body between said teeth.

2. A cap for an umbrella runner comprising a resilient plasticsemi-spherical body, said body having a flat upper wall perpendicular tothe axis of said body, an axial cylindrical bore extending through saidbody perpendicular to said wall, a plurality of teeth formed in saidbody, said body having a plurality of triangular notches delineatingsaid teeth and a point on each of said teeth with said points lying inthe cylindrical surface of said bore.

References .Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.13,430 Susemihl et a1. June 18, 1912 388,364 Jungkurth Aug. 21, 18881,215,369 Hart Feb. 13, 1917 1,473,300 Kruger -s Nov. 6, 1923 2,725,066Estes Nov. 29, 1955

